THE AYRSHIRE HOSPICE
OPENING ITS DOORS TO THE COMMUNITY
Gill Sherry
When I last spoke with Tracy Flynn, CEO of The Ayrshire Hospice, in January 2024, the charity was still £2.5million short of its target to fund the completion of its Capital Build Project which would see the Hospice return to its original home in Racecourse Road, Ayr. Similarly, the estimated opening date remained many months away. Both targets seemed ambitious, but Tracy is nothing if not determined. Fast forward to August 2025 and The Ayrshire Hospice has welcomed its first patients to its newly renovated, redesigned and extended home.
Way back in February 1989, when the charity first opened its doors at 35 Racecourse Road, there were eight beds, but no day services or community services were provided. Since then, the service model has shifted completely, and the charity has recognised the need for change.
There is now a discreet, private entrance into the hospice, and all 12 in-patient rooms have direct access to outside space. The In-Patient Unit also has its own reception area and family room, separate from the public entrance, ensuring that both patients and their loved ones have appropriate time and space.
The palliative and end of life care provided by The Ayrshire Hospice will always remain its number one priority. However, the celebration of life is also important, which is why the community is encouraged to take advantage of everything the charity’s new home has to offer.
The Gargowan Café, for example, is open to all from 8.30am to 2.30pm Monday to Saturday. Full of natural light, it’s the perfect spot for breakfast, brunch, morning coffee, lunch, or cream team, and parking is free and plentiful.
And why not pick up something special from the boutique-style Gargowan Gift Shop which offers a unique selection of gifts including scented candles, chocolates, jewellery, coasters, mugs and its very own branded gin, Gargowan No. 35, a collaboration with Isle of Cumbrae Distillers? Opening times are Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm.
The Café and Gift Shop (and gin!) are named after the historic villa at 35 Racecourse Road, which was first purchased by the charity in 1987. The neighbouring property at number 37 was then acquired nine years later, with work beginning on the Capital Build Project in 2023.
The home of The Ayrshire Hospice is now an attractive blend of old and new with modern architecture combining sympathetically with original stonework, evidence of which is visible both inside and out.
Capital Build Project Manager, Julia Connolly, had this to say at the Official Opening on 18th August: “It’s been challenging, but to see it built from the ground up, on a room-by-room basis, is amazing. The overall effect is great. What I really care about is if the patients like it, and their families like it, and the staff like it… and they do!”
Unsurprisingly, Julia is extremely proud to see the charity’s new home open to both patients and the community, but she’s quick to acknowledge that it was very much a team effort.
To demonstrate this point, three long-serving volunteers were invited by Tracy Flynn to join in with the ribbon-cutting on 18th August. Barbara Houston, Barbara Cowan and Anne Swan have over 90 years’ service between them. Specialist Palliative Care Nurse, Maureen Fanning, who has worked for the charity for over 30 years, also took part in the ceremony.
Anne Swan said: “I’m very proud, very honoured and very thrilled. It was a moment of history.”
Prior to the public opening, the official opening of the new In-Patient Unit took place which saw Senior Care Assistant, Lorna Paton, cut the ribbon. Lorna, the charity’s longest-serving clinical team member, welcomed the first in-patient, marking the beginning of a new chapter in hospice care.
Fundraising remains essential in this new chapter which is why the community is invited to experience The Ayrshire Hospice for themselves. Visitors to the Gargowan Café and Gift Shop will contribute to much-needed funds. There is also an opportunity for businesses and community groups to support the charity by making use of the new meeting and conference spaces. Two rooms are available, one with a capacity of 12, the other 24, each with excellent facilities including WiFi, projectors and catering, if required. More information can be obtained by calling The Ayrshire Hospice on 01292 269200.
Breaking down barriers by inviting the community through the doors has always been important to Tracy and her team. By providing a welcoming space, with attractive facilities, she hopes to encourage more visitors to the charity’s new home which is so much more than a hospice. Why not pop in and see for yourself?
“Opening the doors of our transformed hospice is a milestone in a year full of milestones,” Tracy said. “None of this would have been possible without the incredible support of our Ayrshire community, and it’s wonderful to be able to invite everyone in to use the space.
“Our new home is not only a place of outstanding care, but also a welcoming space for all – whether that’s enjoying the Gargowan Café, browsing Gargowan Gifts, or simply helping us spread the word. Every visit and every act of support makes a real difference, and we’re proud to share this next chapter with the community that built it.
If you’re interested in volunteering or donating, please get in touch:
35 – 37 Racecourse Road, Ayr, KA7 2TG
www.ayrshirehospice.org
